Newmarket

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Observations features a son of freshman sire Ghaiyyath (Ire). 16.10 Newmarket, Mdn, £21,000, 2yo, c/g, 7fT MOTHECOMBE (GB) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) debuts in a maiden that resonates with Charlie Appleby, having taken three of the last eight renewals which is no surprise given that he targets this with colts...

Newmarket's July Festival witnessed some smart performances from big names on the opening day and Friday's action looks set to follow that pattern with Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) the leading lady in the feature G1 Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes. Surprisingly, she has proven adept at this mile despite showing abundant pace as a juvenile when winning the G3 Albany Stakes and G1 Cheveley Park Stakes. Runner-up in the 1,000 Guineas, the filly who races for Steven Weston, Barry Fowler, Medallion Racing and Reeves Racing went to Royal Ascot's G1 Coronation Stakes...

Carrying a penalty in Thursday's G2 Princess of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket, Scuderia la Tesa and Vaibhav Shah's Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) made light work of the task to enhance his reputation en route to the G1 Irish St Leger. Last seen impressively recording a second consecutive success in the G2 Yorkshire Cup over an extra two furlongs, the Marco Botti-trained 5-year-old was content to sit behind two rivals racing up the centre of the track and was already closing in with menace when Oisin Murphy gave the command two...

Having suffered one of Royal Ascot's most unexpected reversals, Ballydoyle's Whistlejacket (Ire) (No Nay Never) heads to Newmarket's July Festival on Thursday with a point to prove in the G2 Kingdom of Bahrain July Stakes. Caught out by the speed test of the G2 Norfolk Stakes, the Listed First Flier Stakes winner could manage only fourth as the heavily-supported 10-11 favourite and duly reverts to a more suitable six-furlong trip to put his substantial reputation back on track. His brother Little Big Bear (Ire) came here two years ago only...

Ryan Moore has been booked for the ride on the G1 Coronation Stakes and G1 Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) in Friday's G1 Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket, for which seven fillies and mares were confirmed on Wednesday morning. With no Ballydoyle representative in the line-up, Moore is free to link up with the Donnacha O'Brien-trained filly, racing for the Medallion-Weston-Fowler-Reeves partnership, with Oisin Murphy who steered her to success in the Cheveley Park back on David Howden's G2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes winner Running Lion (GB)...

Back down to three days after a bumper four-day run last year, the Tattersalls July Sale retains its earlier Tuesday start for this year. Despite the rise of online sales and pop-up offerings, this is a fixture in the calendar that retains its popularity and increases in success year on year. For breeders, it is a welcome pause after the foaling season and ahead of the start of serious yearling prep, offering the chance to stock up on a mare or two, while owners and trainers can rely on plenty...

It remains all systems go for the rematch between Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal) and Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) after both horses featured among 13 confirmations for Saturday's G1 My Pension Expert July Cup at Newmarket. Inisherin was an emphatic winner when the pair met in the G2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock in May and Kevin Ryan's colt followed that effort with another top-class performance when also winning the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot last time. He is a general 7-4 favourite to confirm himself the outstanding sprinter in...

Billy Loughnane is set to be in Group 1 action at Newmarket this weekend when he bids for the first top-level success of his burgeoning career in the My Pension Expert July Cup. Loughnane was among the winners on Saturday's Coral-Eclipse card at Sandown, notably landing the Coral Challenge aboard Cicero's Gift (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) for Charlie Hills, who is set to reward the young rider with the mount on one of his two potential July Cup runners, the Jim and Fitri Hay-owned pair of Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire})...

Betfred will be the new sponsor of Newmarket's 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas from 2025 onwards, it was announced on Thursday. The multi-year agreement means the bookmaker will become the first brand to sponsor all five of Britain's Classics--the others being the Betfred Oaks and Betfred Derby at Epsom and Doncaster's Betfred St Leger--at the same time. To mark their sponsorship of the prestigious contests, Betfred have also announced that a £2-million bonus will be on offer to connections of any horse who completes the 'Betfred Triple Crown' by winning...

Renowned equestrian Katie Jerram-Hunnable MVO and her husband Chris have partnered with Newmarket Racecourses in support of the Retraining of Racehorses' (RoR) programme Horses For Courses, it was announced on Wednesday. Launched in 2023 and supported by Godolphin, Horses For Courses showcases the care given and opportunities available to racehorses once their racing days come to an end. The programme has so far seen 15 racecourses adopt an equine ambassador. Having first sat on a horse at the age of five and competed at the Horse of the Year Show...

Royal Ascot winners Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal) and English Oak (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) both feature prominently in the betting for the G1 My Pension Expert July Cup after the latest entries were released on Tuesday. A total of 23 horses remain in contention for the first big clash of the generations at the six-furlong trip, which will be run at Newmarket on Saturday, July 13 and offers total prize-money of £600,000. Inisherin ran out a dominant winner of the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, having been sent off a...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features the return of Ancient Truth (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). 14.10 Newmarket, Novice, £10,000, 2yo, 7fT ANCIENT TRUTH (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) earned TDN Rising Star status over six furlongs on debut here in a race that has produced winners and Charlie Appleby opts to stay close to home...